Oliver Cowdery

Oliver Cowdery (3 October 1806-3 March 1850) was an early leader of the LDS Church alongside Joseph Smith. In 1838, he left and was excommunicated from the church and later became a Methodist, although he returned to the church in 1848.

Biography
Oliver Cowdery was born in Wells, Vermont in 1806, and he left Vermont for upstate New York in 1826 and became a store clerk. In 1829, he became a school teacher in Manchester, New York, and he lodged with different families in the area, including that of Joseph Smith Sr.. He met Joseph Smith on 5 April 1829, and he heard from him of the Native American plates that he had discovered. Cowdery told Smith that he had seen the plates in a vision before they even met, and he would go on to unsuccessfully attempt to translate the Book of Mormon himself. In 1830, he became the "Second Elder" of the new LDS Church, with Smith being its "First Elder". He was also an LDS apostle from 1829 to 1838, Second Elder from 1830 to 1834, Assistant President from 1834 to 1838, and Assistant Counselor from 1837 to 1838. In 1838, he split with Smith due to his desire for financial independence, his opposition to polygamy, and his disagreements with Smith's political program. Cowdery was excommunicated and became a dissenter, and he became a lawyer in Tiffin, Ohio, as well as converting to Methodism. In 1848, he ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly, but he was defeated after his ties to Mormonism were revealed. That same year, he rejoined the Mormons in Nebraska, and he was rebaptized on 12 November 1848. He died in Missouri in 1850.